St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-05-26
a GIRLS ESCAPADE.
She Spends a Night in the Woods
With Male Friend.

Special TO the Globe.
NEW YORK, May 25.-A World special
from Waterville. Me-, gives the follow
ing account OF the strange disappear
ance of Maud Mason, who was yeSter-
day supposed to have either. eloped or
been murdered: The girl turned up
to-day. and Blair, her companion, disap-
peared from town. Miss Mason had
spent the night with him in the woods.
In fact, the missing people were alone
in the woods day and night. The girl
is severely brought to task for her in
discretion, but there is no suspicion of
wrong-doing. The sentiment is
bitter against Blair, however.
and he narrowly escaped with
his life. Il party of men
on horseback headed by the girls
bro her Fred were patr0lling the edge
of the woods some distance away when
the missing ones were found. The men
were armed with revolverS and rifles,
and young Mason, who has recently re-
turned from four years experience on
Western rance, carried two cowboy
pistols in his belt and a laSSo flung over
the pommel of his saddle. He repeat
edly declared that if he could get sight
of Blair he would drop him and
drag his body into town by the
laSso. The cooler heads We're afraid
of this threat, and as soon
as Blair was found he was put under
arrest and taken before the selectmen.
He was told of his danger, and the howl
ing crowd about the town hall warned
him what would happen when the news
of his capture reached the riders who
were beating the bushes some two miles
below town. Blair gladly promised to
leave the state if the officers would let him
go. and last night he took the midnight
train for Boston. 1t is now believed
that the anxiety of Maud'S parents and
the noise and preparation made to find
her were the cause of her remaining
hidden. To her father, Mayor Mason,
the girl said in explanation of her con-
duct that she was returning home with
the mail when she met Blair and reined
up her horse to talk with him. firing
of sitting on her saddle she diSmounted
after time and the two strolled on,
leading the pony behind them. 1t then
was dark and they wandered from the
rangeway which leads through the
woods to Lake MeSSalonskee. The
night was clear and before they knew it
they were looking out over the water.
Maud hitched the pony and the pair
strolled on few yards along the bank.
While they were standing at the edge of
the water there suddenly came shout
lIOlil Il party Ol lllel, accompanied by
the barking of dogs and the lanterns be
gan to appear moving among the trees.
Maud heard her own name called and
started briskly for her pony in the hope
OF being able to mount and ride home
without being seen. Before she could
reach the horse some of the party of
searchers discovered the animal and
swore vengeance on Blair. This so
alarmed Maud that she ran as fast
as she could, followed by
Blair. and while the searchers
decided it was best to be locked in her
room until she could give an account of
herself. Blair, meanwhile, walked into
town and was eating good meal when
the police seized him. Since the alarm
was sounded late Monday until the girl
was found the citizens of Wateryille
have had no rest day and night, and
now, that they find that the girl would
have come had she been let alone, they
are indignant at the Masons for putting
them to so much trouble. Blair will
not return to Waterville again and Miss
Maud and her spirited pony will be
missed grom the streets for some time
to come.